He knows more about Australian cinema than most Australians, and has been toiling away on the other side of the globe building up a festival to celebrate it. French Bernard Bories is president of the annual Rencontres Internationales du Cinéma des Antipodes in St Tropez, which, approaching its 12th edition is receiving a reputation for being an invigorating, dynamic and fun festival with its own bold voice in the European circuit. Bories meets up with Ruby TV for an apricot juice in Gambetta, Paris.
At the same café last year, Bories told us why he loves Australian films. They are “a combination of the best of both American and European film elements. In France we do well the alchemy, social, political, hard subject films but… they can be boring. America do well the punchy, dynamic films… but they can lack substance. Australian films succeed to mix both elements-duality and passion.”
Bories believes Antipodean cinema is at the moment a very heathy one, with an international appeal. “Unlike what happens in the rest of the world, Australian and New Zealand cinema has never been so buoyant” he writes on his site, “and no less than four films have already opened on French screens this year (Bright Star, Disgrace, Daybreakers, The Tree ).
The line- up for the 12th édition feature films in competition is:
BALIBO (Aus) directed by Robert Connolly
BOY (NZ) directed by Taika Waititi
BRAN NUE DAE (Aus) directed by Rachel Perkins
HOME BY CHRISTMAS (NZ) directed by Gaylene Preston
THE WAITING CITY (Aus) directed by Claire McCarthy
BEAUTIFUL KATE (Aus) directed by Rachael Ward
The high profile jury which will include Collette Dinnigan and Tina Arena will be headed by Miranda Otto. The short film competition (two programs) which inclues films by Luke Davies (writer of Candy which will also have a screening and Q n A), Edward Housden (Muscles which screened in Cannes) and Elise McLeod (who will be present to introduce Urban Orchestra) will be judged by local youth, guided by a film professional.
If there’s a theme to this festival, Bories comments on the strong indigenous présence. Old Country New Country, Bran Nue Day, Boy and Stone Brothers are amongst the indigenous films screening. What does Bories appreciate in these films? “A richness of cinema that combines themes of politics and transitions with a strong sensé of humour.”
The festival runs 11-17 October in St Tropez, France and includes screening, discussions, events and conferences. Ane the best part is- it’s open to the public and free.
Bories is now a veteran of the Cannes film festival, which we found about this year for SBS Australia- see the video here.
